Fractionating column



y 9 Y A. V. OSBORNE 2,896,928..

I I FRACTIONATING COLUMN Original Filed Jan. 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. ALEC I! OSBORNE IIIS A 770F115) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. V. OSBORNEFRACTIONATING COLUMN Original Filed Jan. 23, 1956 July 28, 1959 wn mm msATTORNEY United States Patent C) FRAC'IIONATING COLUMN Alec V. Osborne,Mexico City, Mexico, assignor to Pfaudler Permutit Ina, Rochester, N.Y.,a corporation of New York 5 Claims. (Cl. 261--113) This inventionrelates to fractionating columns and more particularly to fractionatingcolumns adapted for handling corrosive materials, one object of theinvention being the provision of a more efficient column of this nature.

In certain industries, it is often necessary to rectify or fractionatecertain corrosive materials, particularly acids which have a highlydeleterious effect on the materials commonly used for construction offractionating columns or towers. In the past, it has been the practiceto make such apparatus from one or more of the corrosion resistantmaterials such as stainless steel and the like, but this has proven tobe extremely costly. For this reason, another object of the invention isthe provision of a column of relatively inexpensive steel constructionwhich is protected from colrosive'effects by an internal vitreous enamelor glass lining.

In the past certain difiiculties have been encountered in theconstruction of the internal parts of fractionating columns designed forcorrosion resistant use. The common bubble cap type of tray has provenefficient in service, but such devices are expensive when manufacturedfrom corrosion resistant material. Slat or bar type column trays areless expensive to manufacture, but have proven vulnerable to the eifectsof corrosion. It is therefore another object of this invention toprovide an inexpensive slat or bar type tray for rectifying columnswhich are corrosion resistant.

It is well known that glass is one of the most corrosion resistantmaterials particularly under acidic conditions. For this reason, afurther object of this invention is the provision of fractionatingcolumns having trays formed of glass.

Since bars or slats formed of glass are somewhat fragile, it isnecessary to provide means of support adapted to the peculiar propertiesof this material, and to provide cushioning means for protecting theglass parts from mechanical shock, and the provision of such supportingand cushioning means is a further object of this invention.

Fractionating columns are large and bulky pieces of apparatus, and theyare generally erected and assembled at the site of use. For this reason,it is desirable to provide supporting and cushioning means for theinternal glass parts which may easily be assembled and installed in thefield, and the provision of such means is a further object of thisinvention.

In the maintenance of columns of this type, it is often necessary toclean, condition, or replace the internal parts thereof, and to this endit is often'necessary to remove and replace one or more of the slats orbars constituting the trays. For this reason, it is desirable to providesupporting means which may easily be dismantled and reassembled in thefield and which permits the removaland replacement of any one of theglass bars without disturbing the remainder of the tray involved, andthe provision of such supporting means is a still further object of thisinvention.

I Other objects of this invention include the-provision of I.

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a column of the above description which is efiicient, economical tomanufacture from standard parts, and practical to erect and maintain inthe field.

This application is a continuation of the co-pending application of AlecV. Osborne, Serial No. 560,582, filed January 23, 1956, now abandoned; I

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fractionating tower embodying thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along ines 22 in Fig.4;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a spacer removed for purposes ofclarity; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of a fractionating tray;and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a saddle bracket removed forpurposes of clarity.

A fractionating column embodying this invention, and here shown for thepurpose of illustration, preferably comprises a vertical cylindricalouter shell 10, shown in Fig. 1, supporting a plurality of fractionatingtrays. Shell 10, which may be of any desired height, is preferablyfabricated of mild steel or some other suitable material protected by alayer of glass or vitreous enamel 12 (Figs. 2 and 4) in order towithstand the corrosive effects of material treated. Access to theinterior of the shell and to the several trays is provided by aplurality of vertically spaced manholes or ports 14 each comprisinganoutwardly extending pipe portion 16 (Fig. 2) terminating in a flange18. Ports 14 are closed by cover plates 20 (Fig. 4) or othersuitableremovable closures. Alternate ones of ports 14 are offset by forpurposes hereinafter described.

A plurality of vertically spaced horizontal trays 22 are mounted inshell 10, each tray being adjacent to and slightly below a port 14, asshown in Fig. 2. Each of trays 22 comprises a lattice structureconsisting of a series of spaced, parallel cylindrical bars or tubes 24,supported in a horizontal plane. The tubes of each tray extend in adirection substantially perpendicular to the axis of the adjacent port14, and thus the tubes of each alternate tray are disposed at rightangles to the tube of the adjacent upper and lower trays.

Tubes 24- are formed of chemically resistant glass'or other suitablecorrosion resistant material cut to length and protected at the end bytips 26 (Fig. 4) preferably fabricated of Teflon or other suitable,chemically resistant material which will be unaffected by the contentsof the column, and which is soft and resilient enough to form aprotective cushion. Tips 7.6 are preferably made in the form of plugsfitting into the ends of tubes 24 and have enlarged, rounded heads whichabut the glass walls of the container.

In order to assure the efficient functioning of this type offractionating column, it is necessary that the tubes comprising thetrays be accurately spaced to provide for uniform liquid and vapor flowat all areas of the tray..

length of the bundle. The length of each spacer isaccu rately adjustedin relation to the diameter of the tubes and to the position of theholes so that the projecting ends of the spacer abut the outer tubes ofthe adjacent bundles to maintain the desired spacing between bundles.Thus, when each bundle of tubes is inserted and forced against'theadjacent bundles, the spacing-of all the tubes will be uniform acrossthe entire area of the plate.

Tubes 22 are supported by a series of transverse supporting members 32preferably comprising heavy glass tubes or other suitable members, of adiameter somewhat larger than that of the tubes 24 described above. Thesurfaces of transverse members 32 are preferably covered with a thinsheath or envelope 34 of a soft, resilient plastic such as Teflon orother inert material in order to provide a cushioned support for glasstubes 24. Transverse members 32 are supported by a series of saddlebrackets 36 (Figs. 2, 4 and which are preferably composed of steel orother suitable metallic alloy protected by a coating of glass orvitreous enamel. Saddles 36 comprise a generally cylindrical bodyportion 38 (Fig. 5) terminating in a semi-cylindrical saddle or socketsupport 40 for containing the ends of the cylindrical supporting members32. The other end of body portion 38 is cut at an angle conforming withthe angle of the shell at the point where the particular bracket is tobe used. Thus, the saddle bracket designed for use at the center of thecolumn has a substantially square end while the brackets designed foruse at the sides of the cylindrical shell have their ends cut at anglescorresponding to the curvature of the shell, so that they may squarelyabut the shell to form a firm seat therewith as shown in Fig. 4. The topsurface of body 38 may be cut away as at 42 (Fig. 5), to provideclearance for the outer tube 24, as shown in Fig. 4. The outer end ofbody 38 is drilled and threaded for the reception of a bolt 44 which isinserted from the outside of shell to hold the bracket firmly in placeagainst the interior wall of the shell. A gasket 46 (Fig. 2) of asuitably resilient chemically resistant material is interposed betweenthe end of body portion 38 and the shell to cushion the interior wall ofthe shell, to seal the joint therebetween, and to take up the gapbetween the curved shell and the planar end of the body.

The tubes comprising each tray are held in place on the supports by atransversely extending locking member 50 (Fig. 2) which is similar tosupporting members 32 and preferably of glass but which is placed on topof tubes 24 in order to hold the latter in place against verticalmovement. This member is held in place by inverted saddle brackets 52similar to saddle brackets 36. Locking member 50 is also protected by athin envelope of plastic 54 similar to envelope 34 covering supportingtubes 32, in order to prevent glass to glass contact.

In practice, outer shell 10 is fabricated, the glass lining is applied,the holes for bolts 44 are drilled, and glass coated saddle brackets 36are installed and bolted in position at the factory. Tubes, 24, 32 and50, are cut to length, and are packed separately.

After shell 10 has been set up at the site of use and carefully leveled,the supporting members 32 are laid into place in saddles 36 through theadjacent ports 14. Tubes 24 are then assembled into bundles by means ofspacers 28, and are laid into place on supporting members 32. Lockingmembers 50 are then inserted and fastened in place by means of brackets52 which are bolted to shell 10. When all the trays have been insertedas described above, ports 14 are sealed by means of closure plates 20,and the column is ready for operation. If, during the course of use, itshould become necessary to clean the trays or to replace one or more ofthe tubes,

the appropriate port 14 is opened, one or both saddle brackets 52 areremoved, locking member St is removed and the desired tubes 24 are thenremoved and replaced. Since tubes 24 are securely supported by means ofsupporting members 32, any desired tube or bundle of tubes 4 may beremoved without disturbing the other tubes of the tray. Thus,maintenance and replacement of the column in the field is a very simplematter and may be accomplished with the minimum of disassembly. Thus,the invention accomplishes its stated objects. It provides a completelycorrosion resistant fractionating column having corrosion resistantglass trays. Any portion of these trays are quickly and easily removablein the field, and since each element of the tray is independentlysupported by transverse supporting members, any single tube or bundlesof tubes may be removed without disturbing the adjacent tubes or bundlesof tubes as the case may be.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects andwhile it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fractionating column comprising a glass-lined metallic shell havinga plurality of access providing manholes spaced vertically andcircumferentially from one another therein, and a plurality offractionating tray units spaced vertically from one another in saidshell and each comprising a plurality of supporting brackets ofcorrosion-resisting material fixed to said shell below an adjacentmanhole, a plurality of transversely extend ing, supporting rods ofcorrosion-resisting material removably supported by said brackets, aplurality of closely spaced, parallel, tray-forming rods ofcorrosion-resisting material extending transversely of and removablysupported by said supporting rods, a pair of upper brackets ofcorrosion-resisting material fixed to said shell at opposite sidesthereof and a rod of corrosion-resisting material removably supported bysaid upper bracketsfor holding said tray-forming rods on said supportingrods.

2. A fractionating column comprising a glass-lined metallic shell havinga plurality of access providing manholes spaced vertically andcircumferentially from one another therein and a plurality offractionating tray units spaced vertically from one another in saidshell, and each comprising a plurality of glass-coated metal supportingbrackets fixed to said shell below an adjacent manhole, a plurality oftransversely extending glass rods removably supported by said brackets,a plurality of closely spaced, parallel, tray-forming glass rodsextending transversely of and removably supported by said supportingrods, means for holding said tray-forming rods in parallel spacedrelation to one another, a pair of upper glass-coated metal bracketsfixed to said shell at opposite sides thereof and a glass rod removablysupported by said upper brackets for holding said tray forming rods onsaid supporting rods, said supporting and holding rods having coatingsthereon of corrosion-resisting cushioning material to preventglass-to-glass contact with said trayforming rods.

3. A fractionating column comprising a cylindrical glass-lined metallicshell having a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged accessproviding manholes, with said pairs spaced vertically andcircumferentially from one another therein, a plurality of fractionatingtray units in said shell each adjacent and below a pair of said manholesand each comprising a pair of supporting brackets of corrosion-resistingmaterial fixed to said shell on opposite sides of each manhole andaccessible therethrough, a pair of horizontally extending supportingrods of corrosionresisting material removably supported by saidbrackets, a plurality of closely spaced, parallel, trayforrning rods ofcorrosion-resisting material extending transversely of and removablysupported by said supporting rods, means for holding said tray-formingrods in?- parallel, spaced relation with one .ano'thenapair of upper Vbrackets of corrosion-resisting material fixed to said shell above saidtray-forming rods and a rod of corrosionresisting material removablysupported by said upper brackets for holding said tray-forming rods onsaid supporting rods, all of said rods being removable through theadjacent man-holes.

4. In a fractionating column for corrosive materials having a containingand supporting shell, the combination of a plurality of spaced pairsofsupporting brackets of corrosion-resisting material adapted forattachment to said shell and having sockets therein, a plurality ofhorizontally extending supporting rods of corrosion-resisting materialhaving their ends removably supported in the sockets of said brackets, aplurality of closely spaced, parallel tray-forming rods ofcorrosion-resisting material extending transversely of and removablysupported by said supporting rods, a pair of upper brackets ofcorrosion-resisting material adapted for attachment to said shell abovesaid tray-forming rods and having sockets therein, and a rod ofcorrosion-resisting material removably supported in the sockets of saidupper brackets and holding said tray-forming rods on said supportingrods.

5. In a fractionating column for corrosion-resisting materials having acontaining and supporting shell, the combination of a plurality ofspaced pairs of glass-coated metallic supporting brackets adapted forattachment to said shell and having sockets therein, a plurality ofhorizontally extending, glass supporting rods having their endsremovably supported in the sockets of said brackets, a plurality ofclosely spaced, parallel, tray-forming glass rods extending transverselyof and removably supported by said supporting rods, a pair of upperglass-coated metallic brackets adapted for attachment to said shellabove said tray-forming rods and having sockets therein, means forholding said tray-forming rods in parallel, spaced relation with oneanother and a glass rod removably supported in the sockets of said upperbrackets and holding said tray-forming rods on said supporting rods,said supporting rods and said rod for holding said trayforming rodshaving coatings thereon of corrosion-resisting and cushioning materialto prevent glass-to-glass contact with said tray-forming rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS905,142 Bond Dec. 1, 1908 1,227,019 Thompson May 22, 1917 1,920,623Becker Aug. 1, 1933 2,396,241 Besler et a1 Mar. 12, 1946 2,789,803 DotyApr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 135,776 Great Britain Dec. 4, 1919 710,630Germany Sept. 18, 1941 885,548 France May 31, 1943 OTHER REFERENCESChemical Engineering, vol. 58; issue 2; pages 15 5-157 February 1951.

